Posted on August 3, 2026
By Tim Reeves
The power of advanced simulation and a world-class research team are now officially at the forefront of how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) builds and modernizes the nation’s inland navigation and maritime infrastructure.
For years, the U.S. Army Watercraft and Ship Simulator — located at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Mississippi — has served as an important resource for district engineers.
Whether planning new inland waterways, designing deep-draft coastal channels, or enhancing existing structures, districts could leverage the simulator and its team.
While simulation was required for many studies, ERDC’s involvement for certain projects was limited to oversight of simulation teams normally devoted to shiphandler training. In these situations, ERDC’s full simulation expertise was not brought to bear and in some cases resulted in deficient studies, requiring simulations to be performed over again.
Now, a recent policy memorandum and an updated engineer regulation have elevated the ship simulator and team from a highly capable tool to a mandatory part of the process and central authority for modernizing the nation’s inland navigation infrastructure, maritime and dredging operations.
“This direction is needed to ensure the Corps fully utilizes the best available resources in designing navigation projects to ensure safety, promote efficiency and increase capacity of dredges,” the Honorable Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, wrote in his memo announcing the changes. “In particular, it is intended to ensure that the actual needs of harbor pilots are captured and reflected in project designs such that projects are not overdesigned or overbuilt.”
The Watercraft and Ship Simulator provides advanced, engineering-based maritime simulation to support USACE projects and Department of War mission planners.
Part of ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, the facility features four full-mission bays and one deployable, portable on-site simulator. The full-mission bridges are highly immersive, with three of those bays featuring a 270-degree visual scene and the other offering a full, 360-degree view.
“We aren’t just simulating what a harbor looks like or how a vessel operates — we are mathematically modeling exactly how the water, wind and currents behave,” said Dr. Ty Wamsley, director of ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. “It is our team’s expertise in coastal engineering and hydrodynamics that allows us to confidently validate new infrastructure designs and how vessels can and will operate in the most challenging of scenarios.”
The bays can support separate training and project scenarios or be combined to allow multiple pilots to run simulations on the same project with completely different profiles.
Supported by an experienced team of engineers and scientists, the Watercraft and Ship Simulator team delivers unbiased data and analysis to de-risk major infrastructure projects, optimize designs and provide foresight, saving millions of dollars and enhancing national security.
The memo and requirement said the “Corps shall … use navigation ship simulation conducted by marine pilots and/or other marine professionals to assist in the design of navigation channels,” Telle wrote. “In addition to using ship simulation in the design of deep draft navigation projects, the Corps shall also, where appropriate, use simulation in the design of locks and other elements of the Inland Waterway’s system.”
That use of marine pilots – licensed experts navigating our nation’s waterways, harbors and ports – has long been a key component of the simulator’s success. It is that expertise, combined with ERDC’s engineering and science, that has resulted in tremendous outcomes for customers, stakeholders and the American people.
“The elevation of the simulator to a mandatory step in our design process is a testament to the incredible value this team delivers,” said Dr. Beth Fleming, USACE Director of Research and Development and Chief Scientist, as well as ERDC Director. “This capability is de-risking major infrastructure projects before a single dredge hits the water. By merging our team’s world-class expertise with the real-world experience of harbor pilots, we are making sure our nation’s waterways remain resilient, efficient and capable of delivering for a nation in motion.”
When the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Port of Baltimore collapsed, it shut down commercial traffic, costing the economy an estimated $15 million per day.
Needing a safe, temporary navigation shipping route while the collapsed bridge and damaged ship were removed, USACE turned to the ship simulator team.
For several days, simulator team members and Baltimore boat pilots tested navigation and tugboat procedures and emergency buoy placements through different weather, wind and daytime/nighttime scenarios. Within that time, the team’s work paid off, validating procedures that safely reopened the waterway, increasing channel use by 75 percent and cutting daily economic losses from $15 million to less than $5 million.
Supporting the Alaska District, the simulation team studied a proposed expansion of the Port of Nome, which would create a deep-water dock capable of servicing both civilian and military vessels in the region.
This project is important to both the regional and national economy, as well as the military’s work to strengthen its strategic footing in the Arctic region.
Before construction began, pilots were able to virtually navigate the proposed harbor under a variety of harsh environments and sea conditions, identifying operational challenges and allowing designers to refine the plan with data-driven precision.
This virtual analysis helped optimize the physical size and scale of the project, which helped avoid more than $100 million in expected project costs.
The facility was also used to complete a comprehensive navigation impact assessment for the 26-mile-long Matagorda Ship Channel, which runs from the Gulf of America to Port Lavaca, Texas. The Galveston District’s Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project is set to deepen and widen the channel to improve port efficiencies, reduce transportation costs and more.
By testing the planned channel designs in the simulator, district officials learned the channel could be made narrower while remaining safe for vessel traffic, which saved an estimated $40 million in dredging costs.
“Hon. Telle’s memorandum provides a clear roadmap that underscores the importance of engaging ERDC early and throughout the design process. Coupled with the updated engineer regulation, it equips USACE district partners with codified tools and best practices to strengthen navigation studies,” said Dr. Keith Martin, a research physicist and the ship simulation team lead. “ERDC has long been a leader in maritime simulations and continues to deliver efficient, rigorous engineering analysis.
“Equally important, the memorandum creates new opportunities for strategic partnerships with other simulation facilities, further expanding and maximizing ERDC’s capabilities.”
By leveraging ERDC’s simulation capabilities and research expertise, along with the real-world knowledge of marine pilots, USACE is taking the guesswork out of infrastructure design.
The new directive seeks to ensure every dollar spent on dredging and construction is used wisely, delivering on a promise to the American people smarter and faster than ever before.
